NINE FATALITIES IN EIGHT WEEKS – HSE ISSUES SAFETY ALERT TO WASTE AND RECYCLING INDUSTRY

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NINE FATALITIES IN EIGHT WEEKS – HSE ISSUES SAFETY ALERT TO WASTE AND RECYCLING INDUSTRY
01 March 2006 - HSE InfoLine

The Health and Safety Executive has today issued a safety alert to the waste and recycling industry following nine reported fatalities in eight weeks. In seven instances, people were killed by being struck by a vehicle.

Commenting on the figures, Paul Harvey, Principal Inspector of HSE's Waste and Recycling Section said: "The tragedy of these incidents must act as a stimulus for the industry to review its procedures, making sure that vehicle risks are properly controlled. Wherever possible pedestrians and vehicles should be segregated, paying special attention to transfer stations and sorting areas. Street collection activities need to address the risks to collection staff and other road and pavement users."

"Using reversing aids such as mirrors, CCTV, detectors and beacons do reduce the risks. In most public access areas you will usually need to provide reversing assistants, their job being to help the driver and prevent or warn pedestrians entering manoeuvring areas when the risks cannot be controlled adequately by other means."

HSE has developed specific guidance with the Waste Industry Safety and Health Forum, available from the HSE website at: www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/web/wastetransport.pdf. HSE's workplace transport pages on the website also provide guidance in this area at: www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/index.htm.

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About: HSE InfoLine
Britain's Health and Safety Commission (HSC) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are responsible for the regulation of almost all the risks to health and safety arising from work activity in Britain.

The HSE looks after health and safety in nuclear installations and mines, factories, farms, hospitals and schools, offshore gas and oil installations, the safety of the gas grid and the movement of dangerous goods and substances, railway safety, and many other aspects of the protection both of workers and the public. Local authorities are responsible to HSC for enforcement in offices, shops and other parts of the services sector.

The HSC is sponsored by the Department of Work and Pensions and is ultimately accountable to the Minister of State for Work, the Right Honourable Jane Kennedy MP.

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